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Billy Henry
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Daylight Saving Time
Many people gripe when we “spring forward” in March, at the start of Daylight Saving Time. And many studies suggest they have reason to complain. For a few days after the switch, there’s an uptick in car accidents, workplace injuries, and even heart attacks. And a recent study shows other consequences: more junk food and less time at the gym. Daylight Saving Time is observed across most of the United States and more than 70 other countries. Originally, it was designed to save energy. By advancing the clock an hour during the longer days of summer, people would go to bed not long after dark, so they wouldn’t use as much electricity in the evenings. But it’s not clear if it really does save energy. Today, the big advantage is seen as recreational – people can spend more time outdoors. But the loss of sleep seems to cause problems. The new study, for example, looked at how people changed their health habits the day of the switch. Researchers found that people ate more junk food – the number of junk-food calories went up by about half. The effect was especially pronounced in the evenings and when the day of the change was cloudy. And the total time people spent at fitness centers went down by a third – especially among those who didn’t work out often, or lived farther from the gym. The study found there was no impact from “falling back,” as we’ll do tonight – as Daylight Saving Time ends for another year. Script by Damond Benningfield
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